Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Oct 10: Verbal argument ensued on Friday, October 9, between the personnel of Navyug company, who has the contract constructing four lane road work on NH66 at Ucchila, and petty shop owners, who have illegally put up shops on the acquired land.

Though the four-lane highway work at Ucchila market area is completed, the work of service road construction is still pending. Navyug company had instructed the petty shop owners, who have set up the shops on the acquired land, to vacate the area. But the petty shop owners did not pay heed to the instructions of the contractor. So the personnel of Navyug company including the manager resorted to vacate the unauthorized petty shops. During this work, petty shop owners protested and this resulted in verbal argument between both parties. Some of the petty shop owners used their influence with the local MLA and warned the Navyug personnel not to force them vacate the land. So the Navyug company staff had to go back without getting the land vacated for service road construction work.

Shivaprasad Rai, manager of Navyug company said, "The buildings and petty shops that are set up in the acquired land at Ucchila had to be vacated at the earliest. Many complaints are being raised by the public to complete the service road construction. We will complain to the police and sub-divisional officer in this regard."

Though years have passed after acquiring land for building one km long service road at Ucchila town junction, the service road is not built. Because of this many shops have come up on both sides. As the petty shop owners are using political influence to prevent their evacuation, the problem has become a tough nut to crack. Public is urging the administration and people representative to resolve the issue immediately and get the service road constructed soon.

Dilip, station officer of Padubidri police station said, "After verifying the acquired land area, petty shop owners will be asked to vacate the area. Some have a wrong notion that only one petty shop will be cleared from the area. As service road needs to be built, all the petty shops that lie on the specified land need to be vacated."